Method for treating the skin and device

ABSTRACT

Method for treating and/or evaluating the human skin, comprising sucking a targeted area of skin up into a chamber to bring the targeted area into contact with a surface present at a recessed position within the chamber so as to, 1) exert at least one of several possible mechanical actions to the targeted area, to include at least one of abrading and puncturing the skin at the targeted area, the abrading resulting from relative movement of the surface relative to the chamber while in contact with the targeted area, and/or repeated movement of the skin against the surface in response to repeating vacuum cycles, and/or 2) apply a composition to the targeted area by transfer from the surface, and/or 3) measure an extent of a contact area between the surface and the targeted area of the skin, and/or 4) measure a contact pressure between the surface and the targeted area of the skin.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention pertains to skin treatment and skin propertiesevaluation. The invention is related to a vacuum assisted treatment ofthe skin.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

At the micro level, skin has a highly textured folded morphology thatcreates difficulties in obtaining even coverage and exposure totreatments such as for cosmetic, mechanical action, etc.

Treatments often become concentrated in either the folds or treatmentscan be limited to the high-points leaving the folds untreated. Howeverit is often important to address both areas uniformly.

Furthermore, properties of skin such as skin firmness highly depends onfirst the skin type and secondly the part of the body or the face totreat.

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/863 440 discloses an apparatus fortreating the skin including a chamber positioned adjacent to the skin. Asource of vacuum removes the air from the chamber. The treatment isperformed by the application of an electromagnetic radiation to the skinthrough a transparent window on which the skin is drawn up.

U.S. patent application No. 61/081,110 discloses an applicator for RF,ultrasound or light treatment of the skin that comprises a hollow cavityformed inside a housing. The cavity communicates with a source ofnegative pressure. The pressure in the cavity sucks up the skin thatcomes into contact with a valve. The skin opens or closes the valvedepending on the pressure in the cavity. The housing can comprise one ofmore RF electrodes and/or ultrasound transducers to treat the skin.

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/393 682 discloses a device for skinmicrodermabrasion configured to contact the skin. By application ofvacuum, the skin is sucked up into a chamber to contact an abrasivemember. Then the device is moved to abrade the skin in contact with theabrasive member.

There remains a need for improving methods and devices for evaluatingthe skin and/or for treating the skin.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to some embodiments, the present invention relates to a methodfor treating and/or evaluating the human skin, comprising: sucking atargeted area of skin up into a chamber to bring the targeted area intocontact with a surface present at a recessed position within the chamberso as to,

-   -   (i) exert at least one of several possible mechanical actions to        the targeted area, to include at least one of abrading and        puncturing the skin at the targeted area, the abrading resulting        from        -   relative movement of the surface relative to the chamber            while in contact with the targeted area,        -   and/or        -   repeated movement of the skin against the surface in            response to repeating vacuum cycles.        -   and/or    -   (ii) apply a composition to the targeted area by transfer from        the surface, and/or    -   (iii) measure an extent of a contact area between the surface        and the targeted area of the skin, and/or    -   (iv) measure a contact pressure between the surface and the        targeted area of the skin.

For sucking up into the chamber a targeted area of the skin, thepressure into the chamber is decreased to be under the ambientatmospheric pressure to exert an axial force distributed over theexposed skin. The skin is deformed such that it protrudes in thechamber.

A “targeted area of the skin” is to be understood as the area of theskin that is in the chamber for treatment and/or for evaluation by thesurface.

When sucked up into the chamber, the skin is stretched. The skin of thetargeted area is at least partially flattened, on the sub-mm scale, toallow a more uniform application of treatments even on the folds.

Furthermore, the surface is protected from inadvertent contact with theskin or other external objects by virtue of its recessed position, whichproves advantageous when the surface is made by sensitive structuressuch as micro-needles or an application pad. Contamination of thesurface may be avoided this way, if desirable.

The mechanical action or the application of the composition by thesurface is exerted while the skin is in contact with the surface.

Puncturing the skin creates pathways through the stratum corneum, theskin's main barrier to infusion, to improve the infusion of activeingredients in the skin. Therefore, puncturing the skin prepares thelatter to the application of a composition containing at least oneactive ingredient. The flattening of the skin enables the puncturing tobe performed uniformly without the need of deep puncturing which couldhurt and generate bleeding. Shorter micro-needles may be used.

Abrading the skin enables the removal of dead cells from the outermostlayer of the skin to provide a healthier looking appearance, wrinklereduction, to clean out blocked pores, or the treatment of undesirableskin conditions to enhance skin tone. Abrading is performed withaccuracy so that the skin tissue is not damaged while the dead cells areremoved effectively.

The abrading may be performed by a movement of the surface. Theamplitude and speed of the friction of the skin on the surface may beselected in response to the skin morphology and firmness.

Alternatively, the abrading may be performed by the repeated movement ofthe skin. Indeed, while the skin is oscillating axially, the skinsurface area in the chamber is alternatively increasing and decreasingand each small part of the skin within the chamber is alternatively andlaterally stressed and relaxed. The dead cells may be removed this way.Furthermore, the skin may oscillate between an upper and a lowerposition, the skin of the targeted area contacting the surface at leastin the upper position. As the skin comes into contact with the surfaceat least in the upper position, the skin of the targeted area is rubbedagainst the surface, improving the abrading.

The invention may enable exfoliating the folds in skin structure.

Measuring an extent of the contact area and/or of the contact pressure1) enables active adaption of the pressure in the chamber depending onthe desired treatment, 2) enables control of the treatment progressdepending on results of measurement, and 3) may provide informationrepresentative of the firmness of the skin as loose skin tends to besucked up higher than firm skin.

This enables measurement of elasticity of the skin.

Preferably the targeted area of the skin is a region of the face or thebody. The invention may allow preferential treatment of thinner or morewrinkled skin when compared to thicker less wrinkled skin. For example,loose skin such as the corners of the eyes and forehead where wrinkleshave started, for example for subjects older than 50 year old, arepulled deeper into the chamber than tight area of the skin. This allowsselective treatment of looser areas of the skin automatically, dependingon the depth of the surface, which may be selected, so that one skintype is accessed and another is not. This enables the selectiveapplication of cosmetics or physical treatments that could serve totighten the skin in the right areas without treating areas not in need.

The method is preferably not a therapeutic method and is a cosmeticmethod. When a composition is applied, the composition is preferably acosmetic composition. The composition may be an anti-wrinklecomposition, a moisturizer, a tightening composition.

The surface may or may not generate ultrasound waves or electriccurrent, nor electromagnetic radiation such as light or heat.

Preferably, the relative pressure within the chamber is ranging from 2to 10 mmHg under ambient atmospheric pressure during sucking up of theskin, better from 4 to 6 mmHg.

The skin of the targeted area can be treated without displacement of thechamber relative to the skin outside the chamber, especially when theskin is to be punctured. Between treatments of the targeted area, thechamber may be displaced, for example translated to another area of theskin, either manually or automatically.

The skin of the targeted area may be stretched during sucking up to astretched surface extent which is less than twice the surface extent ofthe targeted area in an unstretched state prior to sucking up.Preferably, the skin is stretched from flat to a relatively smooth dome.The extent of surface is approximated by the ratio of the dome surfaceto the flat disk surface prior to sucking up. The ratio preferablyranges from 1.2 to 1.8.

The stretching of the skin preferably occurs at a sub-mm scale, not at amicron scale, only the natural creases in the surface of the skin beingunfolded, not the specific structures of the skin at the micron sizescale.

The depth of penetration of the skin in the chamber may range from 1 mmto 3 mm, preferably 1.5 mm to 2.5 mm.

While coming into contact with the surface, the skin of the targetedarea may deform to flatten itself on the surface, all the surface of thetargeted area tending to come into contact with the surface and to adaptits shape relative to the surface shape.

Preferably, the targeted area occupies when contacting the surface from2 to 10 mm². The opening of the chamber may have a radius of about 4 mm,preferably ranging from 3 mm to 10 mm. The depth of penetration of theskin within the chamber may range from D/10 to D/2, better from D/8 toD/4, where D is a largest dimension of the opening through which skin issucked up.

The targeted area may comprise at least one fold, this fold beingflattened while the skin of the targeted area is sucked up andstretched. The fold is at least partially unfolded, allowing thetreatment to be performed therein.

The method may comprise increasing the pressure within the chamber aftertreatment of the targeted area to cause the skin of the targeted area tomove away from the surface. The increase of pressure can result from anopening of a valve or an action of a pressure source. The pressure mayincrease up to atmospheric pressure or over atmospheric pressure.

As mentioned above, the pressure may cyclically decrease and increase tocause the targeted area of the skin to oscillate between an upperposition and a lower position within the chamber. The oscillation of theskin causes an alternation of stress step and relax step of the skinwhich may increase the flexibility of the skin. The cycle frequency ofthe pressure is preferably ranging from 30 Hz to 80 Hz. The number ofoscillations per second ranges for example from 5 to 100.

The pressure within the chamber may be increased to more than theambient atmospheric pressure after treatment of the targeted area toease displacement of the chamber relative to the skin towards anothertargeted area. The chamber may be displaced relative to the skin outsidethe chamber while the pressure in the chamber is greater than ambientatmospheric pressure. Therefore, the device floats on a cushion of airon the skin and can be moved easily without friction on the skin from atargeted area of the skin to another targeted area of the skin.

The surface, before sucking up of the skin of the targeted area withinthe chamber, may be at a distance from the targeted area ranging from0.5 mm to 8 mm, better from 1 mm to 3 mm.

Preferably, the puncturing is performed by at least one micro-needleprotruding from a remainder of the surface, better a plurality ofmicro-needles. The at least one micro-needle has preferably a heightequal to or less than 30 μm, better equal to or less than 20 μm. Such aheight enable the micro-needles to perforate the stratum corneum of theskin without penetrating deep into the tissue to avoid bleeding, painand risk of infection. The puncturing may extend substantially onlythrough the stratum corneum, not into the dermis. The puncturing may befollowed by application of a cosmetic composition containing an activecomponent intended to be absorbed.

The abrading may result from a lateral and/or rotational movement of thesurface relative to the chamber, the movement possibly beingoscillating. Thus, the surface may gently abrade the skin of thetargeted area, removing the dead cells. The abrading may take placewithin the folds as well as on the high spots between folds.Interstitial debris may be knocked off. After treatment, the skinrebounds to its normal pillowed morphology again.

In a variant, the abrading results from an axial movement of the surfacerelative to the chamber, the axial movement possibly being oscillatingup and down. Therefore the abrading is improved as the stretching of theskin of the targeted area is performed in contact with the surface. Thesurface may be displaced axially by the skin being sucked up.

The surface may be mounted on a spring and the targeted area of the skinmay exert a force on the surface that deforms the spring, maintainingcontact of skin on the surfaces as the skin stretches.

The application of the composition may be performed by a porous elementof the surface impregnated with the composition. The porous element ispreferably feeded with the composition taken from a reservoir ofcomposition, the feeding possibly being continuous. The composition maybe drawn from the reservoir thanks to the vacuum existing within thechamber. The stretching of the skin enables an even coverage of coatingin folds as well as on the high spots between folds.

The recessed position of the surface may be spaced enough from anopening of the chamber through which the skin of the targeted area issucked up to selectively treat only loose skin when multiple targetedareas are treated. As explained before, the behaviour of loose and firmskin may differ by the height each may possibly reach within the chamberat a same pressure within the chamber; loose skin protrudes higher thanfirm skin.

The method may comprise adjusting the distance from the opening of thechamber to the surface. For example, an adjustment member may be rotatedto vary the distance, for example by extending a wall of the chamberdefining an edge resting on the skin during treatment or turning a knobto which an internal element defining the surface is attached.

The extent of contact between the surface and the skin of the targetedarea may be less than the extent of the area defined by the externalperimeter of the targeted area. The skin present into the chamber mayhave regions having different firmnesses, the loose regions coming intocontact with the surface and the firm regions remaining apart from thesurface.

A same or a further composition may be sprayed on the targeted areawithin the chamber. The composition sprayed may uniformly coat thesurface of the skin.

Ultrasound waves and/or electric current may be applied to the skin ofthe targeted area, possibly through or from the surface. The applicationof ultrasound waves may facilitate the removal of dead cells from thesurface of the skin and generate sonophoresis to increase absorption ofa composition into the skin. The application of an electric current maygenerate electrophoresis to increase absorption of a composition intothe skin.

Electromagnetic radiation such as light or heat may be applied to theskin of the targeted area, possibly through or from the surface.

The surface may be heated above the ambient temperature. An extent of acontact area between the skin and the surface and/or a contact pressurebetween the skin and the surface may be measured. This may be useful formeasuring elasticity of the skin, or to indicate to a user when atreatment for thin wrinkled skin has been successful, or forconditioning a treatment to the detection of a specific type of skin.

The surface may comprise a treating region for treatment of the skin anda probe region for measuring the extent of contact and/or the contactpressure. The treating region and the probe region may overlap at leastpartially, or may not overlap, being separate regions. For example thetreating region and the probe region may both be centered on the surfaceand the probe region may extend around the treating region.

The treatment may occur only when the targeted area contacts with apredetermined extend the surface or when the skin's force against thesurface exceeds a predetermined value. For example, ultrasonic waves ora pulse of light are only applied in case contact is detected. Thesurface may be rotated only when contact with the skin is detected, fora given duration, which may avoid over-abrading the skin.

The method may comprise determining whether a pressure exerted by theskin of the targeted area on the surface or an extent of contact areabetween the skin of the targeted area and the surface exceeds athreshold value. Treatment of the skin of the targeted area may beauthorized when the pressure exerted by the skin of the targeted area onthe surface or the extent of contact area between the skin of thetargeted area and the surface exceeds the threshold value. The methodmay comprise exposing the skin of the targeted area to ultrasound wavesusing a transducer at least partially defining the surface, only if thepressure exerted by the skin of the targeted area or the extent ofcontact area between the skin of the targeted area and the surfaceexceeds the threshold value, to avoid damaging the transducer if not inproper contact with the skin.

The method may comprise detecting a quick fall in the contact pressureto determine when the micro-needles of the surface pierce the skin andthus when the penetration is completed.

Further embodiments of the invention relate to a method for evaluatingskin firmness or a surface morphology of the skin, comprising:

-   -   sucking up into a chamber positioned over the skin a targeted        area of skin to bring the targeted area into contact with a        probe surface present at a recessed position within the chamber,        and    -   determining based upon an extent of a contact area between the        surface and the targeted area of the skin and/or a contact        pressure between the surface and the targeted area of the skin a        degree of skin firmness and/or an information useful for        assessing skin morphology.

This evaluation may be performed before and/or after the treatment ofthe skin according to the method defined above to efficiently treat theskin without damaging it or hurting it. The evaluation may prove usefulto determine a level of vacuum to apply and/or to set the position ofthe surface within the chamber.

The evaluation may also prove advantageous to demonstrate the role of acosmetic treatment on skin firmness or morphology.

For example, skin elasticity is first assessed by measuring depth ofpenetration of the skin within the chamber, by detecting for example ifthere is or not contact with the surface and/or the extent of contact.

Then the skin is treated, for example by application of a cosmeticcomposition containing an anti-wrinkle active. Then skin elasticity isassessed again, and the results are compared to demonstrate a benefit ofthe composition for improving skin elasticity.

Further embodiments of the present invention relate to a device fortreating and/or evaluating a skin of a targeted area, comprising:

-   -   a chamber with an opening configured to face the targeted area        of the skin when the device is applied on the skin,    -   a surface within the chamber at a recessed position from the        opening, and    -   a pressure source in communication with the chamber, at least        for decreasing the pressure in the chamber and for causing the        targeted area to be sucked up in the chamber and to contact the        surface,

the surface being configured for puncturing the skin of the targetedarea and/or applying a composition to the skin of the targeted area bytransfer from the surface,

and/or the surface comprising at least one probe to measure

-   -   an extent of a contact area between the surface and the targeted        area of skin, and/or    -   a contact pressure between the surface and the targeted area of        skin.

Such a device may be used to perform the methods defined above.

Further embodiments of the present invention relate to a device fortreating and/or evaluating a skin of a targeted area, comprising:

-   -   a chamber with an opening configured to face the targeted area        of the skin when the device is applied on the skin,    -   a surface within the chamber at a recessed position from the        opening, and    -   a pressure source in communication with the chamber, at least        for decreasing the pressure in the chamber and causing the        targeted area to be sucked up in the chamber and to contact the        surface,

the surface being configured for abrading the skin of the targeted area,the surface being mobile relative to the chamber, and/or

the device comprising a control member for controlling the pressuresource and to cause a repeated movement of the skin of the targeted areawithin the chamber between an upper and a lower position, the skin ofthe targeted area contacting the surface at least in the upper position.

The pressure source may also create an overpressure within the chamberto ease repositioning of the chamber relative to the skin toward anothertargeted area.

The opening may be of circular shape. The diameter of the opening mayrange from 6 mm to 10 mm. Such diameter may be given by the innerdiameter of the chamber.

Preferably, the pressure source is configured to decrease the pressurewithin the chamber down to 2 to 10 mmHg under ambient atmosphericpressure during sucking up of the skin, better from 4 to 6 mmHg. Thepressure source may be controllable by adjusting the rotation speed of apump rotor or a frequency of reciprocation of a reciprocating pump or aduty cycle of a valve communicating with a vacuum source.

The distance of the surface from the opening is preferably ranging from0.5 mm to 8 mm, better from 1 mm to 3 mm. Such a distance may beadjustable, either manually or automatically, using for example a manualscrew adjuster, a servomotor or a step motor.

The distance may depend from a largest dimension of the opening. Thedistance may range from D/10 to D/5, where D is a largest dimension ofthe opening, as mentioned above.

The distance may be adjusted based on the detection of the force exertedby the skin on the surface.

Accordingly, if the force of contact is low, the distance may be reducedso as to increase the area of contact.

The section of the opening may range from 6 mm to 10 mm as stated above.

The pressure source may be configured to increase the pressure withinthe chamber to more than the pressure of the ambient. The pressuresource may be configured to cause the pressure to oscillate while thetargeted area of the skin remains within the chamber. The frequency ofoscillation may range from 5 Hz to 100 Hz, preferably from 30 Hz to 80Hz.

Alternatively, the pressure may be increased by the controlled openingof a valve. The pressure within the chamber may oscillate while thetargeted area of the skin remains within the chamber thanks to periodicopening and closing of the valve.

The device may comprise at least one micro-needle protruding from thesurface, better a plurality of micro-needles protruding on the surfaceto puncture the skin of the targeted area. The micro-needles can have aheight equal to or less than 30 μm, better equal to or less than 20 μm.

The surface may be laterally and/or rotationally mobile relative to thechamber, the movement possibly being oscillating and being driven by amotor, especially when the surface is abrading.

Alternatively, the surface is axially mobile relative to the chamber,the axial movement possibly being oscillating. The surface is preferablypushed by the skin being sucked up, preferably using a spring to returnthe surface in an initial position when the skin withdraws.

The movement of the surface may have an axial amplitude ranging from 0to 3 mm.

The surface may comprise a treating region for treatment of the skin ofthe targeted area and a probe region for measuring the extent of contactand/or the contact pressure. The treating region and the probe regionmay overlap at least partially.

The surface may comprise a porous element impregnated with thecomposition. The device may comprise a reservoir containing acomposition to deliver to the porous element, the reservoir beingconnected to the porous element by a delivery element. The flow ofcoating material may be generated by the decreasing in pressure withinthe chamber that sucked up the skin of the targeted area. This isadvantageous because no flow will occur unless skin contact is made andit is therefore self regulating.

The surface may be flat, concave or convex towards the opening.Preferably, the surface is shaped to maximize the treatment of the skinof the targeted area.

The surface may be defined by an internal element that isinterchangeable, depending on the treatment to perform.

The probe may comprise at least one of a force transducer to measure thepressure of skin on the surface, a capacitive or resistive sensor tomeasure a contact with the surface.

The device may comprise a spraying element to apply the same or afurther composition on the targeted area.

The device may comprise at least one ultrasound transducer, at least oneelectrode and/or an electromagnetic source. The ultrasound transducerand/or the electrode may be configured to come into contact with theskin of the targeted area. The electromagnetic source may be a lightsource or a heating source and may be configured to treat the skin ofthe targeted area.

The surface may comprise a heating element to heat the surface, theheating element preferably being a resistor.

Further embodiments of the present invention relate to a method forspraying a composition on the human skin, comprising:

sucking a targeted area of skin up into a chamber,

spraying a composition to the skin of the targeted area

The spray of the composition to the skin of the targeted area ispreferably generated while the targeted area is sucked up.

The invention may be better understood from reading the followingdetailed description of non-limiting implementation examples thereof,and from examining the appended drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 schematically and partially shows a skin surface in anunstretched state,

FIG. 2 is a cross-section of FIG. 1 showing the skin of FIG. 1 accordingto II-II,

FIG. 3 is a schematic and partial cross-section of an example of adevice according to the invention,

FIG. 4 schematically shows an example of device according to theinvention,

FIG. 5 is a representation according to FIG. 3, the skin being in anupper position and contacting the surface,

FIG. 6 is a representation according to FIG. 3, the skin being in alower position,

FIG. 7 schematically and partially shows an alternative of a deviceaccording to the invention,

FIG. 8 shows the alternative of FIG. 7, the skin of the targeted areacoming into contact with the surface,

FIG. 9 shows the alternative of FIG. 8, the surface being moved by theskin of the targeted area,

FIGS. 10 and 11 are diagrams illustrating alternatives of pressureevolution in the chamber as a function of time,

FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating the contact of skin on the surface asa function of time,

FIG. 13 is a schematic view of a probe surface from below,

FIG. 14 is a schematic view of a variant of probe surface from below,

FIG. 15 schematically and partially shows the device during displacementthereof,

FIG. 16 is a schematically and partial view of a surface configured forpuncturing,

FIGS. 17 to 22 are schematic and partial views of different variants ofa device according the invention, and

FIG. 23 shows a variant wherein a composition is sprayed onto thetargeted area.

As illustrated on FIG. 1, skin surface 2 has a highly textured foldedmorphology at the micro level and in an unstretched state. The skinsurface 2 comprises high areas 4 separated by folds 6.

As illustrated on FIG. 2, the depth b of folds 6 of skin surface 2 isusually ranging from 40 to 200 μm and high areas 4 have a maximumdistance p between two folds ranging from 0.5 to 1 mm.

As shown on FIG. 2, the skin surface 2 is composed of the epidermis 7,the stratum corneum 8 disposed in contact with the exterior of the bodyand the viable epidermis 10 disposed under the stratum corneum 8. Thethickness d of the stratum corneum 7 is usually ranging from 15 to 20μm.

In the prior art, treatments, such as coating, mechanical stimulation orinfusion, often become concentrated in either the folds 6 or are limitedto the high areas 4 leaving the folds 6 untreated.

Exemplary embodiments of the invention provide a device for physicallyflattening or un-folding the skin surface during treatment exposures, sothat a more uniform application or treatment may be accomplished.

Such a device 20 is illustrated on FIGS. 3 and 4 and described below.

The device 20 comprises a housing 22 defining a chamber 24 with anopening 26 intended to face the skin surface 2. The opening 26 isbounded by a rim 28 of the housing 22 configured to contact the skinsurface 2, preferably in a substantially sealed manner, when the deviceis applied on the skin. The rim 28 may have an annular shape, of insidediameter of about 8 mm for example.

The device 20 further comprises an internal element 30 defining asurface 32 configured to treat and/or evaluate the skin surface 2. Theinternal element 30 is arranged within the chamber 24 such that thesurface 32 is at a recessed position from the opening 26.

Preferably, the surface 32 is at a distance a from the opening 26ranging from 0.5 mm to 8 mm, better from 1 mm to 3 mm, for example about2 mm for a 8 mm opening.

The chamber 24 is in communication with a pressure source 35, shown onFIG. 4.

The internal element 30 allows the passage of air from the opening 26 tothe pressure source 35.

The pressure source 35 may be controlled by a control circuit 37, beingelectrically linked to a power source 39.

As illustrated on FIG. 4, the device 20 may be a hand held deviceconfigured to be easily displaced on the skin surface 2. In a variantnot shown, the device comprises a hand piece defining the opening of thechamber and a base station comprising a vacuum source.

The pressure source 35 is able to decrease the pressure into the chamber22 at a value P that is less than the ambient atmospheric pressureP_(atm).

The decrease of pressure within the chamber sucks the skin up into thechamber. The low pressure tends to increase contact pressure between therim 28 and the skin surface 2 and the resulting friction helps preventthe skin from outside the opening 26 to slide into the chamber 24.

As illustrated on FIG. 6, the skin facing the opening 26 takes a domeshape within the chamber 24. The skin facing the opening 26 is stretchedand the folds 6 are flattened at the sub-mm scale.

In extreme situations, the surface of the skin facing the opening may bestretched such that the skin fills totally the internal space of thechamber 24. The skin is preferably stretched up to less than three timesits initial area in the un-stretched state, better less than twice, morepreferably about 1.5 times.

As illustrated on FIG. 5, while progressively decreasing the pressurewithin the chamber, the skin progressively deforms and comes intocontact with the surface 32, exposing the folds 6 and the high areas 4substantially evenly to the surface 32.

The rim 28 has preferably rounded edges to facilitate the sucking up ofthe skin through the opening 26 and displacement of the housing on theskin between treatments.

The surface 32 has preferably a circular contour but another shape ispossible.

The surface 32 may be flat or may be concave or convex towards the skin.It may have a cup shape that substantially matches the dome shape of theskin.

The absolute maximum pressure difference relative to the ambientatmospheric pressure given by ΔP_(max)=P_(atm)−P_(min) is rangingpreferably from 2 to 10 mmHg, better from 4 to 6 mmHg when the skin ofthe targeted area 42 is contacting the surface 32.

The internal element 30 may be fixed within the chamber 24 or be mobile.The movement of the internal element 30 may be a lateral, a rotationalor an axial movement, or a combination of these movements. When themovement is a rotational movement, the axis of rotation may be coaxialwith the opening or not coaxial with the opening, for exampleperpendicular to the axis of the opening.

As illustrated on FIGS. 7 to 9, the internal member 30 may be mounted ona spring 45 to be able to move axially up and down, accompanying themovement of the skin. Alternatively, movement may be off axis or rotaryto provide a frictional motion.

As illustrated in FIG. 8, the skin of the targeted area 42 may come intocontact with the surface 32 and exert a force F on the internal element30. This force may be sensed using an appropriate sensor. This force mayalso cause the surface to move axially, provided the internal element isable to move when pushed by the skin.

As illustrated on FIG. 9, when the force F is sufficient, the internalelement 30 may move up accompanied by the skin of the targeted area 42.The dashed lines represent the position of the internal element 30before it moves. The internal element 30 may move up of a distance &ranging from 0 and 3 mm.

The initial position of the surface may be adjusted based on the maximumforce applied by the skin on the surface.

The initial position of the surface may also be adjusted so that theforce does not exceed a predetermined value.

The device 20 may comprise a control system to control the pressurewithin the chamber 24.

The control system may be part of the control circuit 37 controlling thepump 35.

Alternatively, the control system may comprise a valve present on thehousing 22 that can open to increase the pressure within the chamber 24.Thus, the pressure within the chamber may be increased by opening thevalve to release partially or totally the skin.

As illustrated on FIG. 6, the pressure P can be controlled to remainbelow ambient atmospheric pressure P_(atm) while being above P_(min) sothat the skin remains deformed within the chamber while not contactingthe surface 32. This may occur when the skin is oscillated between highand low positions and contacts the surface 32 in the high position, asdescribed below.

As illustrated on FIGS. 10 and 11, the pressure within the chamber 24can be controlled to cyclically decrease and increase such that thetargeted area 42 of the skin oscillates between an upper position and alower position.

The lower position may correspond to the skin in an unstretched state.

To oscillate the skin alternatively to a stressed and relaxed state mayincrease its flexibility. Furthermore, the oscillation of the skinfavors the removing of the dead cells on the skin and may increase theclarity and luster of the skin.

The relative pressure to the ambient atmospheric pressure ΔP in thechamber may oscillate between an upper pressure ΔP_(max) and a lowerpressure ΔP_(min) according to a triangle wave, as illustrated on FIG.10 or a square wave, as illustrated on FIG. 11, or a complex wave. Theinvention is not limited to a particular waveform.

As illustrated on FIG. 12, the skin can come into contact (at 1) withthe surface 32 in the upper position and come apart (at 0) from thesurface 32 in the lower position. The skin may respond to the pressureoscillation with a delay Δt as illustrated on FIG. 12.

The surface 32 may comprise at least one probe to evaluate the skinmorphology and firmness. The surface 32 may only comprise a probe 48 andnot be intended for treating the skin or may both carry a probe and beintended for treating the skin.

As illustrated on FIG. 13, the surface 32 may comprise a probecomprising a matrix of sensors 48 that detects the presence and extentof contact with the skin surface 2.

Each sensor may be an electrical sensor that detects when the skin is atits contact. In a variant, the sensors may be optical sensors that forexample detect a change of refraction index when the skin comes intocontact with the sensor.

The surface 32 may comprise at least one probe 48 to measure thepressure of the skin against the surface 32. The probe 48 may comprise aforce transducer. The pressure of the skin on the surface may also bemeasured through measurement of the displacement of the internal element30 within the chamber 24, as detailed above. The probe 48 may be acapacitive or a resistive sensor, such as a resistor element, that hasan output that is relational to the amount of area of skin in contactwith the surface 32 as illustrated on FIG. 21. This may enable to assessskin firmness.

As illustrated on FIG. 21, the electrical capacity and impedance can bemeasured between two points a and b, a being linked to the surface 32and b being linked to the rim 28 of the housing 22. The dotted linecorresponds to the skin being sucked up to come into contact with thesurface 32 in one point and the dashed line corresponds to the skinbeing sucked up to be in a full contact with the surface 32, bothgenerating a signal on the sensor.

The surface 32 may be heated above ambient temperature. As illustratedon FIG. 22, the internal heating element 30 may be buried below thesurface or the surface 32 may carry a heating element 70, preferably aresistor.

The surface 32 may comprise a probe 48 as described is U.S. Pat. No.6,944,491 or as described in U.S. patent application No. 2004/0171962hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety. The probe may be anon-optical probe comprising a plurality of individual detection cellsforming a matrix to deliver an image of the surface. The image may beprocessed to provide information about a number and size of folds of theskin in contact with the surface 32.

As illustrated on FIG. 13, the surface 32 may comprise sensors 48extending over the entire surface 32.

In the variant shown in FIG. 14, the probe region 50 extends only in aperipheral region of the surface 32.

The probe may help to determine when to apply a treatment and/or to stopa treatment. For example, only when the skin of the targeted area 42 isdetecting as being in contact with the surface 32, the targeted area maybe treated.

The surface 32 comprises at least one treatment region 52 to, forexample, abrade, puncture, or apply a composition, in addition to theprobe region 50.

Preferably, as illustrated on FIG. 14, the treatment region 52 extendsat least centrally.

When the treatment has been applied, the pressure within the chamber maybe increased as described before to a pressure higher or equal to theambient atmospheric pressure.

Thus the skin is released, and the device 20 may be moved on the skin totreat another targeted area 42.

Preferably, as illustrated on FIG. 15, the pressure within the chamber24 is increased to more than the ambient atmospheric pressure such thatthe skin may be moved away easily, the device 20 floating on a cushionof air 54 coming from the chamber 24 without friction on the skin.

The treatment carried by the surface 32 may be a puncturing treatment toimprove later infusion of a product within the skin, preferably acosmetic product, especially to help the product to go through thestratum corneum 8.

As illustrated on FIG. 16, the surface 32 may comprise at least onemicro-needle 60, better a plurality of micro-needles 60.

Preferably, the micro-needles 60 are configured to penetrate only on thestratum corneum 8 to avoid bleeding and pain. Preferably, themicro-needles have a height h equal to or less than 30 μm, better equalto or less than 20 μm.

The micro-needles 60 require that the skin applies a force above athreshold force to penetrate the skin surface 2. Such a force can bemeasured to detect a fall down of the pressure exerted by the skin ofthe targeted area 42 against the surface 32, which corresponds to themoment where the micro-needles 60 pierce the skin surface 2. Oncepenetration is detected, pressure can be increased, to allow the skin torebound to its initial flat state.

Preferably, the device 20 is immobilized during abrading relative to theskin outside the chamber 24 to avoid damaging the skin of the targetedarea or the micro-needles 60 during treatment.

The treatment can also be an abrading treatment to remove dead cellsfrom the skin surface 2. The abrasive surface 32 may be formed forexample by fusing abrasive particles to a substrate, or couldalternatively be made as an abrasive disk fixed on the support. Otherremovable and/or replaceable configurations are possible as well.

At least part of the internal element 30 may be mobile relative to thehousing 22 to abrade the skin of the targeted area 42.

As illustrated on FIGS. 17 and 18, the movement of the internal element30 may be traverse to the axis of the chamber or rotational along anaxis X. The transverse movement may be reciprocating movement.

Alternatively, as illustrated on FIG. 19, the internal element 30 has around shape and may rotate according to at least one axis Y, which maybe perpendicular to the axis of the opening.

Alternatively, the skin may oscillate within the chamber as describedabove while contacting the surface 32. Therefore, the skin undergoessmall lateral movement while the skin is stretched in contact with thesurface 32 such that the skin is laterally rubbed onto the surface 32and thus abraded.

The treatment may comprise applying a composition on the skin,preferably a cosmetic composition.

As illustrated on FIG. 20, the surface 32 may comprise a porous element65 attached to a support.

The porous element 65 may be impregnated with the composition and/or maybe fed by composition from a reservoir through a delivery element, suchas a duct 68.

All skins and all part of the body are not equal in firmness andmorphology. There are different skin-types. For example wrinkled andnon-wrinkled areas such as loose skin as fine line areas below the eyeor forehead where wrinkles have started are moved deeper into theinterior volume of the chamber 22 than firm skin as skin on the cheek.

The embodiments of the invention allow automatic selective treatment ofspecific areas by a consumer without attention to technique or process.This may be accomplished by imbedding the surface 32 at a critical depthwhere one skin type is accessed and another is not. This enables theselective application of cosmetics or physical treatments that couldserve to treat the skin in just the right areas, without treating areasnot in need.

The device 20 may comprise a spray to apply the same or a furthercomposition on the skin into the chamber 24.

The device 20 may also comprise at least an ultrasound transducer, atleast one electrode or an electromagnetic source such as a light sourceor a heating source, to apply respectively ultrasound waves, electriccurrent and/or electromagnetic radiation.

Alternatively, the surface may constitute one electrode having apotential different from a potential of the targeted area of the skinbefore contact between the targeted area and the surface.

The surface may be connected to one terminal of an electrical sensor orgenerator, an other terminal of the electrical sensor or generator beingconnected to the skin, preferably through a rim defining at leastpartially the chamber. The generator may apply DC or AC current.

The surface 32 may comprise an ultrasound transducer that comes intocontact with the skin when the latter is sucked up and at least a probethat measure the extent of the skin of the targeted area 42 on thesurface 32 at least around the transducer. Therefore, the ultrasoundwaves are generated only when the probe detects the pressure of the skinaround the transducer, to avoid emitting ultrasound energy in theabsence of contact with the skin, which may destroy the transducer.

The measure of the extent of contact between the surface 32 and the skinof the targeted area 42 may give information about the firmness of theskin. Indeed, loose skins are sucked up higher than firm skins.

The probe may allow to determine the morphology of the skin surface 2 toevaluate if the skin is stretched enough to flatten all folds and treatefficiently the skin. Such a measurement may be made dynamically or not,after sucking up. The measurement may be made dynamically to evaluatehow the skin reacts to the stress and determine skin-type.

Alternatively, as illustrated on FIG. 23, the device 20 comprises aspraying element 80 instead of an internal element 30. The sprayingelement 80 is configured to spray a composition on the skin of thetargeted area when stretched. The skin of the targeted area does notcontact the spraying element 80. This allows the application of acomposition on the whole surface of the skin, even in the folds.

The invention is not limited to the embodiments described above andillustrated on the drawings. The shape of the chamber may vary, as wellas the shape of the surface for treating the skin.

The expression “comprising a” should be understood as being synonymousto “comprising at least one”.

1-61. (canceled)
 62. A method for treating and/or evaluating the humanskin, comprising: sucking up a targeted area of skin into a chamber tobring the targeted area into contact with a surface present at arecessed position within the chamber so as to, (i) exert at least one ofseveral possible mechanical actions to the targeted area, to include atleast one of abrading and puncturing the skin at the targeted area, theabrading resulting from relative movement of the surface relative to thechamber while in contact with the targeted area, and/or repeatedmovement of the skin against the surface in response to repeating vacuumcycles, and/or (ii) apply a composition to the targeted area by transferfrom the surface, and/or (iii) measure an extent of a contact areabetween the surface and the targeted area of the skin, and/or (iv)measure a contact pressure between the surface and the targeted area ofthe skin.
 63. The method of claim 62, wherein the repeated movement ofthe skin takes place between an upper and a lower position, the skin ofthe targeted area contacting the surface at least in the upper position.64. The method of claim 62, wherein the relative pressure within thechamber ranges from 2 to 10 mmHg under ambient atmospheric pressureduring sucking up of the skin.
 65. The method of claim 62, wherein theskin of the targeted area is treated without displacement of the chamberrelative to the skin outside the chamber.
 66. The method of claim 62,wherein the skin of the targeted area is stretched during sucking up toa stretched surface extent which is less than twice the surface extentof the targeted area in an unstretched state prior to sucking up. 67.The method of claim 62, wherein the skin of the targeted area isflattened against the treating surface.
 68. The method of claim 62,wherein the targeted area comprises at least one fold, the fold beingstretched while the skin of the targeted area is sucked up.
 69. Themethod of claim 62, comprising increasing a pressure within the chamberafter treatment of the targeted area to cause the skin of the targetedarea to move away from the surface.
 70. The method of claim 69, whereinthe pressure within the chamber is increased to more than the ambientpressure after treatment of the targeted area to ease lateraldisplacement of the chamber relative to the skin towards anothertargeted area.
 71. The method of claim 70, wherein the chamber isdisplaced relative to the skin outside the chamber while the pressure inthe chamber is greater than ambient atmospheric pressure.
 72. The methodof claim 62, wherein a pressure within the chamber is cyclicallydecreased and increased to cause the targeted area of the skin tooscillate between an upper position and a lower position within thechamber.
 73. The method of claim 72, wherein the cycle frequency of thepressure ranges from 1 Hz to 100 Hz.
 74. The method of claim 62, whereinthe surface is, before sucking up the skin of the targeted area, at adistance from the targeted area ranging from 0.5 mm to 8 mm.
 75. Themethod of claim 62, wherein the puncturing is performed by at least onemicro-needle protruding from a remainder of the surface.
 76. The methodof claim 75, wherein the at least one micro-needle has a height equal toor less than 30 μm.
 77. The method of claim 62, wherein the puncturingis performed by a plurality of micro-needles.
 78. The method of claim62, wherein the abrading results from a lateral and/or rotational and/oraxial movement of the surface relative to the chamber.
 79. The method ofclaim 62, wherein the surface is axially movable within the chamber. 80.The method of claim 79, wherein the surface is displaced axially by theskin being sucked up.
 81. The method of claim 62, wherein the surfacecomprises a porous element impregnated with the composition.
 82. Themethod of claim 81, comprising feeding the porous element with thecomposition taken from a reservoir of composition.
 83. The method ofclaim 82, wherein the composition is transferred by vacuum in saidchamber.
 84. The method of claim 62, wherein the recessed position ofthe surface is spaced enough from an opening of the chamber throughwhich the skin of the targeted area is sucked up to selectively treatonly loose skin when multiple targeted areas are treated.
 85. The methodof claim 62, comprising spraying the same or a further composition onthe targeted area within the chamber.
 86. The method of claim 62,comprising applying ultrasound waves to the skin of the targeted area.87. The method of claim 62, comprising applying an electrical current tothe skin of the targeted area.
 88. The method of claim 62, comprisingapplying electromagnetic radiation to the skin of the targeted area, theelectromagnetic radiation being heat or light.
 89. The method of claim62, wherein the surface comprises a treating region for treatment of theskin and a probe region for measuring the extent of contact and/or thecontact pressure.
 90. The method of claim 89, wherein the treatingregion and the probe region overlap at least partially.
 91. The methodof claim 62, wherein the surface constitutes one electrode having apotential different from a potential of the targeted area of the skinbefore contact between the targeted area and the surface.
 92. The methodof claim 62, wherein the surface is connected to one terminal of anelectrical probe, another terminal of the electrical probe beingconnected to the skin.
 93. The method of claim 62, wherein the otherterminal of the electrical probe is connected to the skin through a rimat least partially defining the chamber.
 94. The method of claim 62,comprising determining whether a pressure exerted by the skin of thetargeted area on the surface or an extent of contact area between theskin of the targeted area and the surface exceeds a threshold value. 95.The method of claim 94, comprising authorizing treatment of the skin ofthe targeted area when the pressure exerted by the skin of the targetedarea on the surface or the extent of contact area between the skin ofthe targeted area and the surface exceeds the threshold value.
 96. Themethod of claim 95, comprising exposing the skin of the targeted area toultrasound waves, possibly through the surface, when the pressureexerted by the skin of the targeted area or the extent of contact areabetween the skin of the targeted area and the surface exceeds thethreshold value.
 97. The method of claim 62, wherein the targeted areaof the skin is a region of the face or the body.
 98. Device for treatingand/or evaluating skin of a targeted area, comprising: a chamber with anopening configured to face the targeted area of the skin when the deviceis applied on the skin, a surface within the chamber at a recessedposition from the opening, and a pressure source in communication withthe chamber, at least for decreasing the pressure in the chamber andcausing the targeted area to be sucked up in the chamber and to contactthe surface, the surface being configured for puncturing the skin of thetargeted area and/or applying a composition to the skin of the targetedarea by transfer from the surface, and/or the surface comprising atleast one probe to measure: an extent of a contact area between thesurface and the targeted area of skin, and/or a contact pressure betweenthe surface and the targeted area of skin.
 99. Device for treatingand/or evaluating skin of a targeted area, comprising: a chamber with anopening configured to face the targeted area of the skin when the deviceis applied on the skin, a surface within the chamber at a recessedposition from the opening, and a pressure source in communication withthe chamber, at least for decreasing the pressure in the chamber andcausing the targeted area to be sucked up in the chamber and to contactthe surface, the surface being configured for abrading the skin of thetargeted area, the surface being mobile relative to the chamber, and/orthe device comprising a control member for controlling the pressuresource and to cause repeated movement of the skin of the targeted areawithin the chamber between an upper and a lower position, the skin ofthe targeted area contacting the surface at least in the upper position.